Valdosta State University will host the American Heart Association’s 2015 South Georgia Heart Walk from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 7, at the University Center field. VSU faculty, staff, students, alumni, retirees, and the general public are invited to attend.

Interested participants can walk as a member of a team or individually. Walkers will travel a route from the University Center field to Ann Street to North Oak Street to West Park Avenue to Ann Street to the University Center parking lot.

“Donation turn-in and company photos will take place between 8 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.,” said Jennifer Johnson, senior assistant director for the American Heart Association in Southwest and South Georgia. “The stage presentation will begin at 8:30 a.m. and the walk will begin immediately after.

“We are still working on some different aspects for the walk but hope to have music and a few good speakers. Our sponsors will have their tents set up in the UC [University Center] field, which we call the Heart Walk Village.”

There is no minimum fee to participate. However, walkers who raise at least $100 will be eligible for a 2015 South Georgia Heart Walk T-shirt.

Sponsored by South Georgia Pecan Company, the goal of the 2015 South Georgia Heart Walk is to raise $125,000.

The American Heart Association’s premier fund-raising event, the 2015 South Georgia Heart Walk is designed to promote physical activity and heart-healthy living in an environment that is fun for the whole family. Across the nation this year, more than 1 million walkers will participate in more than 340 events, raising much-needed funds to save lives from the United States of America’s No. 1 and No. 5 killers — heart disease and stroke.

The American Heart Association is known as the largest voluntary health organization dedicated to defeating heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases.

To fight cardiovascular diseases, the American Heart Association spends nearly 80 cents of every dollar on research, education, and community outreach and helps heart disease and stroke patients. Research the organization has funded has led to such major advances as cardiopulmonary resuscitation, bypass surgery, artificial heart valves, high blood pressure medication, pacemakers, and clot-busting drugs.

It is Johnson’s hope that people will view the 2015 South Georgia Heart Walk as an opportunity to start living healthier, an opportunity to change their lives for the better.

“This year we introduced a ‘Sodium Breakup Booth’ where participants can come and take a selfie and/or fill out a card as a pledge to break up with salt,” she said.

Approximately 75 percent of the sodium consumed by Americans comes from sodium added to processed foods and restaurant foods. Most people consume about 3,400 milligrams of sodium a day — more than twice the 1,500 milligrams recommended by the American Heart Association.

“Sometimes a small adjustment can bring big results when it comes to your health,” shared Johnson. “The American Heart Association has lots of resources to help you stay on track.”